Morocco Wants to Become ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner

As it seeks to diversify its global partners, Morocco has been working for years to strengthen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

After joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in 2016, the North African Kingdom has submitted to the association’s secretary general, Lim Jock Hoi, candidacy to become ASEAN’s sectoral dialogue partner.

“This important step reflects Morocco’s commitment to ASEAN and can trigger a process of progressive and fruitful dialogue between the two sides,” Lim Jock Hoi told the press following talks with Morocco’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mounia Boucetta who submitted Morocco’s candidacy in Jakarta.

The ASEAN Secretary General welcomed the ever-growing ties with Morocco, saying they usher an era of “fruitful cooperation”.

Sectoral partnership is one of the ways for non-members of the regional bloc to engage with it. ASEAN currently has four sectoral dialogue partners – Norway, Pakistan, Switzerland and Turkey.

Boucetta also held a meeting with her Indonesian counterpart, A.M. Fachir, in Jakarta, where they discussed Indonesia-Morocco bilateral relations and agreed to facilitate more interactions between the two countries’ private sectors.